National Immunization Awareness Month reminds us to be ready

So, you’re one of those people who faithfully gets a flu shot every fall. Well done! When’s the last time you had a tetanus shot or booster? A-ha!

Don’t feel bad, most of us fall short when it comes to staying on top of our immunizations. That’s why, when National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM) rolls around every August, it’s a great opportunity to sit down and see what we, or our family members, are missing — and then schedule a trip to the doctor to get those squared away.

NIAM is sponsored by the National Public Health Information Coalition, and they have a ton of great, downloadable info if you’re looking to put an awareness campaign together for your workplace, or anywhere else you think people need to be reminded about the importance of immunizations. The information (and it’s all free) incudes vaccine information, news releases and articles, social media messages and links to resources at the CDC and more.

While NIAM lasts for all of August, it can be broken down into weeks so that various at-risk groups can be targeted. Here’s how the coalition does it:

• Month of August: Ready for school?  Make sure those vaccine records are up to date!

• First Week: Babies and Young Children: A healthy start begins with on-time vaccinations.

• Second Week: Pregnant Women: Protect yourself and pass protection on to your baby.

• Third Week: Adults: Vaccines are not just for kids.

• Fourth Week: Preteens/Teens: Ensure a healthy future with vaccines.

Remember, immunizations aren’t just for kids at back-to-school time. We all need to be as proactive as possible so we can maintain our own health, as well as not pose a danger to vulnerable people around us who, for health or other reasons, can’t be vaccinated.